Release mechanism for fire-extinguishing systems



Nov. 18, 1930.

Filed Sept. 20, 1928' Patented Nov. 13,1930 I umrau *STATESPATENT orrlca paNmnmns, or NECK, NEW Yoak, ASSIGNOR T WALTER KIDDE a com pm, me, or NEW YORKQ'N. Y.,

n-coaroan'rrolv' or NEW YORK mnasn uncmmisu roa-rmn-nxrmeuisnmesrsrnms Application filed September 20, 1928. Serial No. 307,075.

The present-invention relates .to devices for releasing a fire extinguishing medium which is normally preserved under an extreme pressure within a suitable container and, more. specifically, embodies an improved releasing mechanism which permits a frangible disc to be ruptured at will to release the medium, in addition providing avalve which may be operated by the foregoing ren leasing mechanism to shut oflf the flow of the medium after the frangible disc has been ruptured. In using fire extinguishers, particularly of the portable, or hand operated type, it frequently is desirable to move the extinguisher from one location to another to apply the fire extinguishing medium more effectively at the most dangerous points of the fire. The extinguisher can be handled with greater facility if it is not discharging the fire extinguishing medium and to provide an extinguisher of the above character, the present device has been designed.

More specifically, the inventionembodies a manually operated cutter mechanism in as which the cutter is mounted; upon a valve stem which is advanced manually to cause the cutter to rupture the frangible disc which confines the medium Within the con- .tainer. 'A chamber is formed, in the valve body through which the cutter and a portion of .the valve stem move. At the discharging end of the chamber, and about the valve stem, is formed an annular valve seat which is somewhat larger than the diameter of the valve stem and is adapted to be en gaged by a flanged portion of a nut'which secures the cutter to the valve stem. In this manner, when the valve stem is fully retracted and the cutter' out of engagement with the fran 'ble disc, the flanged extension of the nut Wi? in the chamber to prevent the chamber from communicating with the outlet. As the valve stem and cutter are advanced toward the frangible disc, the flan ed portion of the nut is moved away from tie valve seatto open the valve and permit the medium, which.

escapes after the frangible disc has been rup-,' tured, to be dischargedfrom the outlet. If the valve stem is retracted sufiiciently, the

l engage the valve seat formed discharge of the medium is cut off and the fire extinguisher rendered temporarily inactive. I

x As a further improved feature, the valve stem is provided with anaxial passage and ports communicating with the outlet of the container." Between this passage and the cutter which is coaxial therewith, is mounteda second frangible disc. 'When the first frangible disc has been ruptured, and the valve stem retracted to shut off the discharge of the medium temporarily, the medium within the container is confined by the sec- .ond frangible disc, thus providing asafety mechanism which functions subsequently'to the rupturing of the first frangible disc. If, for any reason, the pressure within the container should rise to a predetermined excess value, the second frangible disc will rupture and permit the medium to be discharged through the passage and port within the valve.

In order that the fore oing mechanism may be understood more y, reference will now be had to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in section, taken in a plane passing through the axis of the valve mechanism and showing the cutterand valve construction.

Figure 2 is a view in section, taken on line 2-2 of Figurel, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the above drawings, a designates a container for a fire extinguishin medium, the container bein provided'with a neck a' which is tlireade to receive a valve body 6. This valve'body is formed with an axial passage 6, at the u per extremity of which a vfrangible disc 0 is mounted. This frangible disc is maintained gas tight by ineansof a threaded nut 0' which is threaded 1 into the valve body to engage the fran 'ble disc tightly and prevent the escape o the medium withinthe container. The nut c is formed with an axial assage 0 having radial ooves' c which receive a wrench to permit the nut to. be seated and removed.

\ Formed in the u per portion of the valve body, is a chamber into which the medium is discharged from the passage in the cutter. A valve bonnet d is formed with a cooperating portion d'to provide a chamber of the desired size, the upper portion of the chamber being constructed, as at 03 to form a valve seat. A valve stem e is formed with an enlarged threaded portion e to engage internal threads (1 in the valve bonnet d v whereby rotation of the valve stem by handformed with a passage 6 and ports 6 which communicate with a discharge passage (1* and outlet d Threaded upon the lower extremity of the valve stem is a nut f having an inwardly extending flange f. A cylindrical cutter g is provided with a radial flange g which is engaged by the flange f of the nut f to secure the cutter to the valve stem; Between the flange g and the valve stem, a second frangible disc k is secured and apertures g are formed in the cutter to permit the medium to flow through the cutter and into the chamber 12 The nut f is formed with an outwardly extending. radial flange f to engage the valve seat d formed in the chamber. In its normal retracted position, the valve stem forces the flange f against the valve seat (2 to cut off the communication between chamber 1) and outlet 03?; As the valve stem is advanced, the cutter g engages the frangible disc 0 and causes the latter to rupture, thus permitting the fire extinguishing medium to be discharged through the cutter 9 into the chamber b As the flange f of the nut f is out of engagement with the valve seat (P, the medium flows through the chamber and to the outlet d If, for any reason, it is desired to shut oflf the flow of the medium, the valve stem is'retracted until the flange 7 which forms a valve, engages the valve seat thus cutting ofl the flow of the medium.

Itwill be apparent that, when the valve stem is retracted to prevent the further discharge of the fire extinguishing medium, the remaining medium withinthe container is confined by the second frangible disc h. Should'the pressure within the container become too great, this second disc will rupture and permit the discharge of the medium fhrgugh passage e and ports c into the outet i Although the invention has been described with reference to the specific construction shown in the accompanying drawings, it is not to be limited save as defined in the ap-. pended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A valve for containers ofamedium under pressure comprising a valve body secured to the container, a frangible disc carried'by the valve body and confining the medium within the. container, a valve bonnet, a chamber formed in the valve body and bonnet, an outder pressure comprising a valve body secured to the container, a frangible disc carried by the valve body and confining the medium Within the container, a cutter for rupturing the disc, means to move the cutter with respect to the disc, an outlet for the medium, a valve carried by the valve stem between the frangible disc and the outlet, means to close the valve by movement of the cutter away from the disc, and means interposed between said disc and the outlet and normally preventing the escape of the medium through the outlet when the valve is closed and adapted to relieve the pressure within the container upon the rupturing of the frangible disc due to an excess pressure within the container.

3. A valve for containers of a medium under pressure comprising a valve body secured to the container, a frangible disc carried by the valve body and confining the medium within the container, a cutter for rupturing the disc, means to move the cutter with respect to the disc, an outlet for the medium, a valve carried by the valve stem between the frangible disc and the outlet, means to close the valve by movement of the cutter away from the disc, and means interposed between said disc and the outlet and normally preventing the escape of the medium through the outlet when the valve is closed and adapted to relieve the pressure within the container upon the rupturing of the frangible disc due to a predetermined excess pressure Within the container, said means including a second frangible disc designed to rupture at a predetermined excess pressure.

4. A valve for containers of a medium under pressure comprising a valve body secured to the container, a frangible disc carried by the valve body and confining the medium within the container, a cutter for rupturing the disc, a valve stem upon which the cutter is mounted to move with respect to the disc,

and outlet for the medium, a chamber formed between, and communicating with the out let and the disc, a valve between the chamber and outlet and mounted upon the valve stem, whereby movement of the cutter away from the disc will close the valve, and a second too frangible disc interposed between the first disc and the'outlet and normally preventing the escape of the medium through the outlet when the valve is closed and designed to rupture at a predetermined excess pressure upon the rupturing of the first frangible disc at a predetermined excess pressure within the container.

5. Avalve for containers of a medium under pressure comprising a valve body secured to the container, a frangible disc carried by the valve body and confining the medium within the container, a valve bonnet, a chamber formed in the valve body and bonnet, an outlet formed in the bonnet, a hollow tubular cutterfor rupturing the disc and having ports in its wall in communication-with the chamber, a valve stem upon which the cutter is mounted to move with respect to the disc, a passage in the valve stem, ports in the stem between the passage and outlet, a nut' threaded on the stem, a second frangible disc secured between the cutter and stem, and a flange on the nut forming a valve between the chamber and outlet.

6. A valve for containers of a medium under pressure comprising a valve body secured to the container, a frangible disc carried by the valve body and confining the medium I within the container, a cutter for rupturing the disc, means to move the cutter with respect to the disc, an outletfor the medium, a valve carried by the valve stem between the frangible disc and the outlet, means to close the valve by movement of. the cutter away from the disc, and means normally preventing the escape of themedium when the valve is closed and adapted to relieve the pressure within the container upon the rupturing of the frangible disc due to an excess pressure within the container.

7. A valve for containers of a medium under pressure comprising a valve body secured to the container, a frangible disc carried by I the valve body and confining the medium within the container, a cutter for rupturing the disc, means to move the cutter with respect to the disc, an outlet for the medium, a

valve carried by the valve-stem between the frangible disc and the outlet, means to close the valve by movement of the cutter away from the disc, and means normally preventing the escape of the medium when the valve is closed and adapted to relieve the pressure within the container upon the rupturin of the frangible disc due to a predetermine excess pressure within the container, said means including a second frangible disc designed to rupture at a redetermmed excess pressure.

fbr containers of a medium under ressure comprising a valve body secured to t e container, a frangible disc carried by the valve body and confining the medium within the container, a cutter for rupturing 'the disc, a valve stein upon which the cutter is mounted to move with respect to the disc,

an outlet for the medium, a chamber formed *between'and communicating with'the outlet andthe disc, a valve between the chamber and outlet and mounted upon the valve stem,

whereby movement of the cutter away from the disc will close the valve, and-a second frangible disc normally preventing the escape of the medium when the valve is closed and designed to rupture at a predetermined excess frangi 1e disc.

9. 'A valve for containers of a medium under pressure comprising a valve body secured to the container, a frangible disc carried by the valve body and confining the medium within the container, a chamber formed in the valve body, an outlet for. the medium, 'a cutter for rupturing the disc, a valve stem. upon which the cutter is mounted to move with respectto the disc, a passage in the valve stem, ports in the stem between the passage and outlet, a nut threaded on the stem, a'second frangible disc secured between the cutter and stem, and a flange on the nut'forming a valve. between the chamber and outlet.

This specification signed this 17th day of ressure upon the rupturing of the first; 

